Rabat, Jan. 17 -- Qatar will play Saudi Arabia at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on Thursday, the first meeting since their diplomatic crisis in June 2017.

The match will be played in the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the regional political conflict alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt.

The game will kick off at 8 p.m. local time (4:00 p.m. GMT).

The four countries are imposing a land, air, and sea blockade on Qatar, accusing it of financing terrorism and destabilizing the Gulf region. Doha's officials firmly deny the allegations.

Qatar views the blockade as an attempt by the Gulf powers and Egypt to punish them for pursuing an independent foreign policy.

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